- Cercli has successfully secured $4 million in seed funding, led by Afore Capital, marking their first investment in the MENA region.
- The platform unifies various workforce management functions into a single system, addressing issues like payroll errors and compliance costs.
- It has experienced rapid growth, increasing by 25% month-on-month and processing over $23 million in employee salaries across 31 countries.
- The team includes top talent from regional unicorns and global tech giants, with 80% focused on product and engineering.
Cercli, an innovative platform designed to streamline the management of hiring, payroll, and employee data, has successfully raised $4 million in its latest seed funding round. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the company and underscores its potential to transform workforce management in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The funding round was led by Afore Capital, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm, and saw participation from several prominent investors, including COTU Ventures, Y Combinator, and Rebel Fund.
Afore Capital’s Strategic Investment
Afore Capital’s investment in Cercli represents its first foray into the MENA region, marking an important step for the firm’s $150 million fund III. This move reflects Afore Capital’s recognition of the substantial growth potential within the MENA market.
Anamitra Banerji, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Afore Capital, highlighted the importance of Cercli’s mission in addressing significant regional challenges. According to Banerji, Cercli’s solution addresses a major pain point in workforce management and compliance, offering a comprehensive platform that simplifies complex processes.
Cercli’s Mission and Market Opportunity
Founded by Akeed Azmi and David Reche, Cercli is dedicated to solving the inefficiencies and high costs associated with traditional workforce management systems.
The platform aims to eliminate human error and reduce compliance costs by providing a unified solution that integrates payroll, HR, and other critical functions. Azmi and Reche, who have previously scaled teams at Kitopi and Careem, two of the region’s notable unicorns, identified a clear need for a more cohesive solution to manage international workforces during periods of rapid growth.
Cercli’s market opportunity is substantial. With a $2 billion market potential in the MENA region for payroll services alone, the company is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for streamlined and compliant workforce management solutions.
The platform is designed to address the challenges faced by enterprises that currently rely on fragmented systems and spreadsheets, which often lead to issues such as payroll errors, data privacy concerns, and compliance difficulties.
Investor Support and Growth Trajectory
Cercli’s seed funding round attracted investment from a range of notable sources, including COTU Ventures, Y Combinator, and Rebel Fund.
These investors, along with angel contributions from high-profile technology executives, underscore the confidence in Cercli’s vision and growth potential. Karim Atiyeh of Ramp, Sebastian Mejia of Rappi, Tony Dong of Rippling, Tony Jamous of Oyster, and Allison Pickens are among the distinguished investors supporting Cercli’s journey.
The platform has demonstrated impressive growth since its launch earlier in 2024, expanding by 25% month-on-month. Cercli has already facilitated the payment of over $23 million in employee salaries across 31 countries. This rapid growth is a testament to the platform’s effectiveness and the value it provides to its clients.
Cercli’s Technological Edge and Team
Cercli’s technology is built around user needs and is tailored to comply with local regulations and labor laws. The platform integrates seamlessly with various HR, finance, accounting, legal, and IT systems, serving as a primary source of truth for workforce data. This comprehensive integration helps businesses maintain data integrity and streamline back-office functions.
The company’s technology team has been recruited from leading global and regional firms, including Kitopi, Careem, Microsoft, ADP, and Accenture. With 80% of its team focused on product and engineering, Cercli is dedicated to developing a powerful yet simplified product.
David Reche, co-founder of Cercli, emphasized the importance of attracting top talent to drive growth and accelerate the platform’s adoption across the region.
Investor Insights and Future Prospects
COTU Ventures’ Founder, Amir Farha, expressed enthusiasm for Cercli’s potential to address the challenges of managing a global workforce while ensuring compliance. Farha praised Azmi and Reche for their regional expertise and the impressive growth Cercli has achieved since its inception.
This endorsement from COTU Ventures highlights the confidence investors have in Cercli’s ability to play a significant role in the MENA region’s economic transformation.
Anamitra Banerji from Afore Capital also commended Cercli’s founders for building a robust team and attracting notable customers in a short period. The firm’s investment reflects its belief in the untapped potential of the MENA market and the opportunities that innovative solutions like Cercli can unlock.
Looking Ahead
Cercli’s successful seed funding round and rapid growth underscore the platform’s potential to revolutionize workforce management in the MENA region. By addressing critical challenges in payroll and compliance, Cercli offers a unified solution that simplifies complex processes and reduces costs for businesses.
With strong support from prominent investors and a talented team, Cercli is poised to make a significant impact on the region’s workforce management landscape. As the company continues to expand and enhance its platform, it will play a crucial role in shaping the future of workforce management in the MENA region.
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